Turtle release at Mellieha Bay – Beach of Quality 2010

On the occasion of World Turtle day, Nature Trust (Malta) through its international programmes EkoSkola, Young Reporters for the Environment and Blue Flag for Beaches, in collaboration with The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, The Malta Tourism Authority, The Malta Aquaculture Research Centre (MARC) and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) organised the Eco Schools Turtle Release event for 2010.

Three hundred and sixty students attended this event from schools that have achieved the silver or Bronze level in the Ekoskola Programme or have been awarded the national awarded for their work in the YRE programme.

In all seven loggerhead turtles have been released at the Mellieha Bay which will also link up with the Blue Flag activities for this Bay that is now applying for the full Blue Flag status. This year Mellieha Bay was being awarded the beach of Quality Award The turtles have been rescued over the last months by members of Nature Trust (Malta), the Armed Forces -Maritime Section, MEPA, MARC staff and other NGos such as BICREF and BirdLife Malta. Volunteers from Nature Trust (Malta) assist at MARC in the rehabilitation and medication of such turtles so as a quick recovery can be made and thus the release can occur as soon as possible.

Injures to turtles are usually caused by passing marine vessels, waste such as floating plastic bags, fishing lines and hooks and pollution. Over the years the MARC has provided rehabilitation to many turtles.

Before the Release EkoSkola participants participated in Environmental Games and a talk on Turtles by NTM Volunteers and two NTM Ekoskola coordinators Ms Elizabeth Saliba and Mr David Caruana. At the same time participants of the Young Reporters for the Environment were give a talks by Dr. Alan Deidun from the IOI-MOC of the University of Malta about the ecological role played by jellyfish, about the diversity of jellyfish species in local waters and on the possible causes of jellyfish blooms. This was part of the IOI-KIDS programme for this summer engaging children and youngsters, their teachers and parents to help the marine environment by recording the presence and location of various jellyfish species in Maltese coastal waters.

Nature Trust (Malta) President said that this event brings together three environmental educational programmes aimed at increasing awareness to students, adults, visitors and beach users on the importance of environmental protection and management. All three programmes are run by NTM as the Malta representative of the Foundation for Environmental Education International organisation. These programmes run on the principles of the Agenda 21 where community involvement and environmental education are the pillars of the programme. FEE awards International eco labels to Schools such as the EkoSkola Green Flag, beaches such as Blue Flag which is today the highest eco label in the world that a beach can obtain attracting many tourists all over the world, Green Key an international eco label for Hotels that goes hand in hand with Blue Flag and other programmes such as YRE and LEAF.

Mr Attard said that today’s event is also important as it is brings students and beach users together to celebrate their achievements together since the students have achieved awards in the Ekoskola and YRE programmes while Mellieha Bay has this year been awarded the Beach of Quality award by Blue Flag Malta. The FEE programmes are today supported by the World Health organisation, the United Nations and the EU Mr Attard thanked Dr Anthony Gruppetta and Mr Charles Sammut for their dedication towards saving turtles, Dr Robert Vassallo Agius for providing the turtle rehab facilities at MARC within Fort San Lucjan, MEPA for their role as the responsible Authority and support in the rescue of protected species, the AFM and ALE for their assistance and NGos like BICREF and Birdlife for their dedication.

The Blue Flag Malta Coordinator – Mr Attard, then presented Dr Demarco the Beach of Quality Award for Mellieha bay for 2010. Mr Attard said that Mellieha Bay had during 2009 achieved over 70% of the Blue Flag status criteria. During 2009, Blue Flag Malta held regular Audit checks on this beach and monitored it for Bathing Water Quality, beach cleanliness, beach management, health and safety, access to people with special needs, environmental information and educational activities and environmental conservation activities on the beach. Mr Attard said that Mellieha Bay is on the right track to becoming another Blue Flag Beach. This merits a locality that has also achieved the EU locality of excellence. The bay needs to work harder on Beach management this year and improve its facilities. Mr Attard also praised the Mellieha Mayor for his active role in improving the Beach and aiming for Full Blue Flag status and this should be an example to other localities and their community working for the Blue Flag Eco label. Mr Attard announced that this year Golden Bay in Ghajn Tuffieha and Ramla Bay in Gozo had also achieved the Beach of Quality Award

The turtles were then released among the excitement of all present. Mr Charles Sammut from the San Lucjan Aquaculture Centre explained to those present the case history of each turtle being release.

The students wished good luck to these turtles that once again found their way home. This year also happens to be the International year for Biodiversity.